Majungasaurus crenatissimus

Overview

Majungasaurus was the apex predator of ancient Madagascar—a medium-sized theropod with a distinctive horn on its head and a dark reputation as one of the few dinosaurs with clear evidence of cannibalism! Living approximately 70-66 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous, this abelisaurid was the undisputed king of its island ecosystem.

---

Taxonomy & Classification

• Clade: Theropoda
• Family: Abelisauridae
• Diet: Carnivorous
• Locomotion: Bipedal

Majungasaurus was related to Carnotaurus from South America and other abelisaurids from the Southern Hemisphere.

---

Physical Characteristics

Size & Build

• Length: 6-8 meters (20-26 feet)
• Height: About 2.5 meters (8 feet) at the hip
• Weight: About 1,100 kg (1.2 tons)
• Build: Robust and muscular

The Unicorn Horn

Majungasaurus had a unique head:

• Single dome-shaped horn on its forehead!
• Made it look like a dinosaur unicorn
• Probably used for display, not combat
• Thickened skull roof for head-butting rivals
• Distinctive bumpy texture on the skull

Tiny Arms

Like other abelisaurids:

• Very short, stubby arms
• Couldn't really use them for grabbing prey
• May have been vestigial—evolutionary leftovers
• Four fingers on each hand

---

The Cannibal Dinosaur

Evidence of Cannibalism

Majungasaurus has a dark secret:

• Bite marks found on Majungasaurus bones
• The marks match Majungasaurus teeth exactly!
• Shows they ate each other—at least sometimes
• Could have been scavenging dead individuals
• Or possibly hunting weak or sick relatives

Why Cannibalism?

Scientists think it might have been due to:

• Harsh environment with limited food
• Drought conditions and scarcity
• Only eating already dead individuals
• Madagascar was somewhat isolated—fewer food options

---

Hunter of Madagascar

What It Ate

Majungasaurus hunted the dinosaurs of Madagascar:

• Rapetosaurus—a medium-sized sauropod
• Probably the main prey item
• Other smaller dinosaurs
• Carrion when available
• And apparently... other Majungasaurus

Hunting Style

• Powerful bite force for an abelisaurid
• Strong neck muscles for holding struggling prey
• May have used a bite-and-hold technique
• Not a speed hunter—more of a power predator

---

Island Apex Predator

Madagascar's Top Hunter

Majungasaurus ruled its world:

• The largest predator in its ecosystem
• No competition from other large theropods
• Had the entire island to itself!
• Probably hunted whatever it wanted

The Maevarano Formation

Majungasaurus lived in a challenging environment:

• Semi-arid climate with seasonal droughts
• Rivers and floodplains
• Lots of sauropods to eat
• Sometimes food was scarce

---

Best-Known Abelisaurid

Excellent Fossils

Majungasaurus is scientifically important:

• Nearly complete skulls discovered
• Multiple specimens of different ages
• One of the best-understood abelisaurids
• Helps us understand the whole family

---

Discovery & Naming

Found on Madagascar

• First described in 1896 from teeth (as "Megalosaurus")
• Properly named Majungasaurus in 1955
• Name means "Mahajanga lizard" (Mahajanga is a city in Madagascar)
• Species name "crenatissimus" means "most notched" (refers to teeth)
• Major discoveries made from 1990s onwards

---

Majungasaurus vs. Carnotaurus

Feature	Majungasaurus	Carnotaurus
Length	6-8m	7.5-8m
Horns	One (forehead)	Two (above eyes)
Location	Madagascar	Argentina
Cannibalism?	Yes, proven!	Unknown
Speed	Moderate	Very fast

Both were abelisaurids, but different styles of predator!

---

Cool Facts

• Majungasaurus is the only dinosaur with proven cannibalism!
• It had a single horn on its head—like a dinosaur unicorn
• The bite marks on bones are exact matches to its teeth
• Madagascar was an island even in dinosaur times
• Majungasaurus was the top predator with no competition
• Its skull is one of the best-preserved of any theropod
• Scientists have found dozens of specimens
• It lived until the very end—dying in the asteroid extinction

---

Majungasaurus was the cannibal king of Madagascar—a unicorn-horned predator that proves even dinosaurs had to survive in a tough world by any means necessary!